If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed that I recently started a 24-day challenge*. I am SO excited to share this journey and can’t wait to show you the final results!
To kick off this amazing program, I thought I’d answer some questions about the program.
Why Advocare?
My friend, Cheyenne, inspired me to jump on board her birthday 24-day challenge. It incorporates Advocare supplements and other healthy products to achieve weight loss + overall improved well-being.
She invited me to a Facebook group with other ladies who would be doing the same challenge starting April 1st. I remember seeing her before and after photos on social media over the past couple of years and was seriously blown away by her results! She’s been a huge fan of Advocare and I have loved reading her stories about the products.
I also have heard about it from other friends that participated in the challenge with amazing results. Last but not least, one of my favorite bloggers, Lauren Kay Sims, talks about Advocare often. She takes it as a part of her regular fitness routine. With all the hype around the products, I decided to try it!
Why Am I Doing This Now?
I was invited to join this challenge about a week before the end of March. I realized it was the last full month before we really start hitting the pool. We also have a vacation coming up in May that I need to get fit for. I had 40+/- days to get my diet and fitness routine tightened up for summer. This was my last chance!
I decided to jump on board because I wouldn’t be doing it alone. Cheyenne put a group together of other women also participating in the challenge. This allows us to hold each other accountable and push each other to stick to it. Even on the rough days!
Yesterday we took a trip to Costco and enjoyed picking out healthy foods together. I’m a social person, so if I’m going to be persistent with something, I need others to be in the same boat as me where we encourage each other 🙂
Most of all, I am doing this to prove to myself that I can practice full control over the food choices I make every day. I know how to eat healthy and work out, but doing it consistently is where I fall short. 25 is the year I want to push myself to achieve things I’ve been wanting to achieve but have pushed off!
Where Have I Struggled?
I’m the type of dieter that says I’ll stick to something for a while, but after about 4-5 days, I look at myself and think – eh – “I don’t look that bad, a n d I’m craving wine, bread and cheese…so I’m going to table this diet nonsense for the weekend.”
The problem with this is that once I fall off the wagon, I don’t typically jump back on. I eat mostly healthy in the morning and during my work day, but after work or on weekends I take advantage of my down time. I might drink too many glasses of wine or eat too many chips and queso… (Texan at heart).
I don’t believe that I’m way off from where I want to be, but if I really want to look and feel healthy, I know I must be more disciplined in my choices.
Confession: I am ten pounds heavier than I was in college and when I put my clothes on, I wish they weren’t so tight. I wish I wasn’t so tired some days. And I wish I felt stronger.
What Are My Biggest Goals?
Goal 1: Establish a more consistent workout habit.
Before the challenge, I would workout 2-3 times a week. During the challenge, we have to workout 6-7 days a week. One of the biggest reasons I’d miss a workout is because I’d plan to do it after my work day. A combination of traffic, stressful days and making time to cook dinner made it too unpredictable for me to commit to a workout after work. So I decided I will wake up earlier in the mornings and knock out my workout before I start my day.
Goal 2: Establish healthy choices 80% of the time.
During the challenge, we won’t really have much room for “cheating”. But in real life, once the challenge is over, I want to get better at limiting how many handfuls of chips or pieces of bread I eat. I want to limit the number of glasses of the amazingly delicious cabernet that is so near and dear to my heart. It won’t be necessary to cut it out completely once the challenge is over, but I’d like to get better at rationalizing my portions.
What will I be doing every day?
The first thing I did was establish when I’d be taking the Advocare supplements that Cheyenne suggested. Next, I used a combination of Cheyenne’s suggested meals and Pinterest to put together healthy recipes I could use throughout the week. Last, I put together a workout plan that included Cheyenne’s suggestions, Tone It Up routines and the Nike app workouts. Here’s a breakdown of what one day looks like:
5:30AM – wake up, take Catalyst, take pre workout or Spark if needed. Eat wheat toast with peanut butter to get a little food in the stomach before workout.
6AM – Workout (3 days of cardio, 2 days lower body, 2 days abs/arms)
7AM – Get ready for work
8:30AM – get to work and eat breakfast, take Omegaplex
12PM – eat lunch, take Catalyst and Omegaplex
3PM – healthy snack + Slim or Spark if needed
6PM – dinner + Catalyst
9PM – get in bed, try to fall asleep by 9:30 or 10. (I read that you need to sleep either 7.5 hours or 9 hours total. Sleep cycles last 90 minute total. So my real goal is to be asleep by 10 to get 7.5 total hours of sleep).
Every week I will be checking in with you all and sharing my workouts and meal plans. If you have any questions about the routine we are following or would like to purchase any of the products mentioned above, please feel free to comment below or email me directly.
I hope you ALL have a happy && blessed Monday!
*I am following a custom program that my friend Cheyenne came up with. While we are not taking every supplement that the traditional 24 day Advocare Challenge suggests, you can learn more about all 24 day products on the Advocare website.